Briefs: Nation and world

Briefs: Nation and world

Published 5:30 am, Wednesday, June 5, 2002

Apple offers eMac to general public

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Apple Computer has resurrected the cathode-ray tube for the retail desktop market with a new computer that was originally intended only for schools.

Citing customer demand, on Tuesday Apple introduced an "eMac" model for consumers. Earlier this year, the Cupertino, Calif.-based computer company declared that CRT monitors were history when it introduced a new iMac with a flat liquid-crystal display.

In March, the company raised iMac prices by $100 -- to a range of $1,399 to $1,899.

The eMac -- priced at $999 and $1,199 -- was a lower-cost alternative for the education market, and consumers have "pounded on the table demanding to buy the eMac," Apple CEO Steve Jobs said.

EU ruling may affect company ownerships

BRUSSELS -- A European Union court ruling Tuesday has made some of Europe's largest and most powerful companies, including Germany's Volkswagen AG and Britain's Rolls Royce PLC, suddenly look more vulnerable to foreign takeovers.

The European Court of Justice imposed tighter limits on "golden shares" that give governments special voting rights to block foreign buyers.

McDonald's settles Hindu veggie suits

CHICAGO -- McDonald's Corp. has agreed to donate $10 million to Hindu and other groups to settle lawsuits filed against the chain for mislabeling french fries and hash browns as vegetarian.

The vegetable oil used to prepare the fries and hash browns contained essence of beef for flavoring purposes.

A McDonald's spokeswoman said the money will go to organizations linked to concerns raised by the consumers.

In other news

· Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. was sued Tuesday by 29 states that said the drug maker acted illegally to maintain its monopoly on cancer-fighting drug Taxol and keep generic versions off the market.

· The biggest trader of Nasdaq stocks is the latest firm to trigger mistrust on Wall Street. Knight Trading Group acknowledged Tuesday that a former employee, Robert Stellato, has accused it of improper trading practices during the tech boom. The company denies any wrongdoing.

· After almost three weeks of quiet job cuts, IBM Corp. laid off another 1,500 workers on Tuesday, and appears to be close to finishing with dismissals that have forced the departures of 6,800 U.S. employees.

· Hershey Foods Corp. said it would hire temporary workers to help boost operations after contract negotiations between the company and the union broke down.